MLS Primetime Thursday
Encyclopedia
MLS Primetime Thursday is a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer
games on ESPN2
that began in 2007. The program is presented by Adidas
. ESPN and MLS had previously had a contract where ESPN2
televised live games at 4PM on Saturdays. Play-by-play was usually handled by JP Dellacamera
, with Rob Stone
or Glenn Davis
occasionally filling in. John Harkes
served as color commentator
with Kyle Martino
often filling in. Allen Hopkins
serves as the sideline reporter
. Most telecasts would begin with the ESPNsoccernet
.com pregame show presented by Volkswagen
, with Rob Stone
, with Alexi Lalas
and Julie Foudy as analysts. MLS Primetime Thursday was the premier weekly presentation of Major League Soccer in that it is the only weekly presentation of MLS soccer on ESPN2
. The television rights contract signed in 2006 would keep MLS
on ESPN2 until 2014. However for the 2009 season and beyond, the Thursday telecast was replaced by a variety of primtime games on Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
games on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
that began in 2007. The program is presented by Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
. ESPN and MLS had previously had a contract where ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
televised live games at 4PM on Saturdays. Play-by-play was usually handled by JP Dellacamera
JP Dellacamera
John Paul Dellacamera , known as JP , is an American sportscaster for Major League Soccer with the Philadelphia Union and the Fox Soccer Channel.-Soccer:...
, with Rob Stone
Rob Stone
Rob Stone is a sports commentator for ESPN. He has covered various sports including Major League Soccer, NCAA and NFL football, and is now the play-by-play announcer for PBA Tournament Bowling alongside color commentator and 13-time PBA titleist Randy Pedersen.-Early life and career:A native of...
or Glenn Davis
Glenn Davis (sports broadcaster)
Glenn Davis is an American sports journalist and broadcaster, college and professional soccer player, and youth soccer coach.-Playing:In college, Davis was an NAIA All-American and an All-WVIAC selection...
occasionally filling in. John Harkes
John Harkes
John Harkes is an American former soccer player. Harkes was the first American ever to play in the English Premier League, and the second American to score at Wembley Stadium. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He appeared in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, and won two MLS Cup...
served as color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
with Kyle Martino
Kyle Martino
Kyle Martino is a retired American soccer player and currently a TV soccer color analyst.-High School:Martino attended Staples High School in Westport, CT...
often filling in. Allen Hopkins
Allen Hopkins (soccer commentator)
Allen Hopkins is an American soccer sportscaster. His current duties include coverage of Major League Soccer for ESPN, as well as MLS' C.D. Chivas USA....
serves as the sideline reporter
Sideline reporter
A sideline reporter, also known as a field reporter, courtside reporter , clubhouse reporter or dugout reporter , rinkside reporter or inside-the-glass reporter , on-court reporter , hole reporter , or boundary rider , is a member of the...
. Most telecasts would begin with the ESPNsoccernet
ESPNsoccernet
ESPN Soccernet is a website that provides comprehensive coverage of world football . Complete football information includes scores, statistics, and features of worldwide football.-History:...
.com pregame show presented by Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
, with Rob Stone
Rob Stone
Rob Stone is a sports commentator for ESPN. He has covered various sports including Major League Soccer, NCAA and NFL football, and is now the play-by-play announcer for PBA Tournament Bowling alongside color commentator and 13-time PBA titleist Randy Pedersen.-Early life and career:A native of...
, with Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas
Panayotis Alexander Lalas is a retired American soccer player who played mostly as a defender for the United States national team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup...
and Julie Foudy as analysts. MLS Primetime Thursday was the premier weekly presentation of Major League Soccer in that it is the only weekly presentation of MLS soccer on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
. The television rights contract signed in 2006 would keep MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
on ESPN2 until 2014. However for the 2009 season and beyond, the Thursday telecast was replaced by a variety of primtime games on Wednesdays through Saturdays.
See also
- ESPN Major League SoccerESPN Major League SoccerESPN Major League Soccer is a promotion of Major League Soccer on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD and ESPN2HD. Major League Soccer on ESPN2 debuted in 1996, the league's first season, and is guaranteed to stay on the network till at least 2014...
- MLS Game of the WeekMLS Game of the WeekMLS Game of the Week is a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer on ESPN and ESPN2 that began in 2009.-2011 season EST:*Tuesday March 15- Seattle Sounders FC @ Los Angeles Galaxy 9:30 p.m.*...
- MLS Soccer SaturdayMLS Soccer SaturdayMLS Soccer Saturday is a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer games that aired on ESPN from 1996 to 2006. MLS Soccer Saturday was the first weekly presentation of MLS games, which usually started at 4PM EST. The program is sponsored by Radioshack...
- The game of the week for MLS on ESPN from 1996 to 2006 - MLS SaturdayMLS SaturdaySoccer Night in America was a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer games on FOX Soccer that began in 2003. In 2007, MLS Saturday started showing a 30 minute pregame and a 30 minute postgame show for each game...